Rep. Booth to Run for Adams’ Senate Seat
Once again acknowledging his inability to understand Sussex County at all, it appears to ‘bulo that the R’s have chosen their strongest possible candidate. Booth’s conservative profile suits the district, he has high name recognition from his previous races, and doesn’t seem to be saddled with any real controversy.
Also, the nominal 1200-plurality voting edge for the D’s means nothing in a district that voted overwhelmingly for John McCain. The ‘Democrats’ are, to a great extent, ‘old-school’ southern Democrats. Party ID will mean little here. In his last two elections, Booth ran unopposed in 2006, and captured over 64% of the vote against Helen Truitt (Sen. Richard Cordrey’s former assistant) in 2008 in the 37th RD. He’s a proven vote-getter and, just as importantly, he has a campaign organization already in place.
Apparently the D’s will gather tonight to select their candidate. The Beast Who Slumbers will leave it to the wiser heads from lowerslower Delaware to even hazard a prediction.
The Beast Who Slumbers would actually welcome a Booth victory in the sense that he believes it would place the reform D’s in a stronger position in the Senate. It would leave only Cook and Venables as the unreconstructed obstructionists on the D side of the aisle. (Former Phils’ manager Gene Mauch once said, “Sometimes you add by subtracting.” ‘Bulo believes that subtracting a conservative D senator from Sussex County would prove Mauch’s point.) The R’s would still only have 6 senators, so they’d still have virtually no impact. For Booth, he likely still could serve on JFC where, by most accounts, he did a fine job. He could also swiftly move up the leadership chain in a body almost devoid of strong R leaders.
In the event that Booth wins the Senate seat, the D’s could have at least a fighting chance in the 37th RD. They have a very nominal registration edge and, depending on the dynamics of the Senate race, perhaps the voters would want to split the difference and give a member of the Adams’ Family (ghoulish reference intentional) the chance to follow in Uncle Thurm’s footsteps.
All this idle speculation is an open invitation to political junkies to fire away at the ‘Beast Who Slumbers and Who In Fact Retired Early on June 30’, and to put forth your own idle or not-so idle speculation. The only guarantee is that it will be better informed than ‘bulo’s.
Tags: Local Politics
Sorry about stepping on this thread ES.
I’d like to be the first t point out that Booth (along with Hocker and Atkins) signed a letter supporting IRSD establishing Jesus as district’s official diety.
Unfortunately, that makes him a stronger candidate in Jesusland.
I’d strongly reject any part of the comment, in Som’s otherwise good post, that “would actually welcome a Booth victory in the sense that he believes it would place the reform D’s in a stronger position in the Senate.”
The Grim Reaper has already accomplished the removal of an elderly obstructionist. What the district needs is a results-oriented Democrat who is on our side on issues of labor, state services, health care and more than one amendment to the constitution.
Countenancing a Booth victory would be like welcoming Trent Lott after John Stennis retired. When Stennis, a Dixiecrat-era Democrat, retired in 1988, the Democrats nominated a dirt-under-the-nails US Rep, Wayne Dowdy, who would have been great. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/bold_new_party/ Instead, we got a GOP Dixiecrat.
Democrats will do better if their current domination can be translated into electing down-home Democrats in tough races. I have no dog in this hunt, but I’ve heard a number of names who should inspire some volunteer efforts by followers of this site.
dem choice: polly adams mervin.
JM: ‘Bulo’s point is that he doubts that a candidate like you described is electable in this particular district. He would be delighted to be proven wrong.
And, as he’s said, he does not have a clue when it comes to Sussex County.
And, having said that, he wouldn’t be at all surprised if Blank’s prediction comes true.
They would have to go for the Adams daughter in order to have a fighting chance.
ES, looks like you just conceded the race already? Where’s your fighting spirit? You don’t even know who the D candidate will be and what their politics are?
If they pick Adams-Mervine, and call her Adams-Mervine just for the name recognition, it will be equal to the Booth name, which has little recognition in 95% of the district, and Adams’ campaign can switch straight over to Adams-Mervine’s campaign.
Oh, it’s Joe Booth, not Dan Booth, btw.
I wish I had a candidate to run for the 19th as a Libertarian. I don’t. It would throw a monkey wrench into the works and throw the whole number game off. I honestly think we might have a fighting chance with the right candidate.
Brian: Still feeling the aftereffects of that Chenin Blanc/Viognier. Just be thankful ‘bulo didn’t identify him as John Wilkes Booth…
Correction made, thanks for the heads-up.
BTW, just looking at the #’s, about 20% of the Senatorial District voters are from Booth’s own 37th RD, so you have a point about name recognition.
“…If they pick Adams-Mervine, and call her Adams-Mervine just for the name recognition…”
No can do unless she actually uses that name formally.
The state fair ought to be fun this year…a regular campaign fest! Not everyone who goes to the fair is from Sussex but, everyone from Sussex west surely goes to the fair. Cotton candy and campaign stickers for everyone!
Right, PI, and maybe, just maybe, some ‘complimentary’ shares of that dividend-paying Harr’nton Raceway preferred stock on the side…
PI. Correction, She can use ADAMS-MERVINE all she wants during the campaign.
She just can’t use it on the official ballot if thats not her official name.
I think her real name is Patricia.
FWIW, Mervine declares.
http://delawareonline.com/article/20090701/NEWS02/90701035&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
Anon @ #13: Er…uh…Mervine can’t declare anything for that seat other than her desire to run in a special election. The committee chair (state, but likely on the recommendation of local) makes the official declaration.
On a side note, if they wanted another person to do it, this puts a hell of a quandry on them. Can you imagine the hypothetical situation of tapping someone else to run over her at this point? (don’t read into that, I am opinion-neutral)
Thanks, Anon. El Somnambulo would be very surprised if she is not chosen. How could you possibly deny the candidacy of a surviving family member, even if you wanted to?
She has both name recognition and the sympathy factor going for her. She has previously worked in the State Senate (suh-prize, suh-prize). As long as she demonstrates even a minimal level of competency, and she will do much better than that, she’s got a shot. Should be an interesting race.
What this race needs is a third candidate …
You throwing your hat in the ring again?
Matt, meet Brian.
Brian, meet Matt.
Discuss.
Here’s my take – if Mervine wants to run, the other candidates who have expressed an interest in running will step aside out of respect for the family. Tonight’s meeting will be pro forma and Mervine will take on Booth and will win.
I’m going to try to make the meeting, but holiday traffic is already a bear down here.
I am itching to run a third candidate. Let’s play Who Wants to Be a Libertarian! (joking)
Honestly, I have someone in mind who is my ideal candidate, but I haven’t approached him yet. I will probably know my answer by the end of this week if he is interested.
Let me put this out there: If anyone wants to become an active participant in the Libertarian Party of Delaware, email me. There are the 2010 elections to prepare for, and I don’t want the LP sitting on the sidelines again.
shieldsb52@gmail.com or I will be speaking at the Tea Party protest tomorrow if you want to contact me in person.
I am determined to make this party more active in Sussex County.